Nov. 24, 2009
Box Score |
Quotes |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 
| Game Video
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -
Brenda Frese was curious to see how her young Maryland basketball team would respond to its first loss of the season.
It didn't take long to find out.
The Terrapins built a 24-point lead against Samford in the opening 11 minutes Tuesday night and cruised to a 76-49 victory.
Lynetta Kizer scored 20 points on 8-for-8 shooting for Maryland, which used an early 24-1 run to take control against the previously unbeaten Bulldogs. The torrid start came two days after Mississippi State used a similar burst in an eye-opening 84-55 victory over the rebuilding Terps.
"I thought our kids were really ready," Frese said. "At Mississippi State, we just weren't ready from the tip. I thought tonight's game was going to be a big test, and I thought they did a tremendous job being ready to play."
Tianna Hawkins contributed 14 points, and Lori Bjork and Dara Taylor each had 11 for the Terrapins (4-1), who won their 40th consecutive home game.
Kizer, a 6-foot-4 sophomore center, nailed her only 3-point try. The only shots she missed were at the foul line, where she was 3 for 5.
"I'll take a 3-pointer if I'm open," Kizer said. "Besides that, I'll stick in the post."
Savannah Hill led Samford (3-1) with 14 points. The Bulldogs return four starters from a team that last season went 22-7 and advanced to the Southern Conference semifinals.
But Samford was no match for a young Maryland squad that shot 55 percent - including 7 for 10 from beyond the arc - in going up 43-23 at halftime.
A jumper by Emily London with 45 seconds elapsed to put the Bulldogs up 2-1, but that would be their only lead.
Bjork then made three 3-pointers and a short jumper during a 16-0 run. After a free throw by Samford interrupted the spree, Diandra Tchatchouang connected twice from beyond the arc and Hawkins added a layup to make it 25-3.
The Bulldogs missed 12 of their first 13 shots.
"I was really disappointed in the way we started the game and the way we responded in the first 10 minutes," Samford coach Mike Morris said. "I knew Maryland would be upset; I knew (Frese) would have their attention. I wasn't too happy about that Mississippi score when I saw it across the ticker."
After the shoddy start, the Bulldogs regained their composure.
"I was pleased with the last 30 minutes of the game, when we played them relatively even," Morris said. "But the game was decided in the first 10 or 12 minutes."
